tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43648289809443365702015-07-31T13:45:23.932-04:00Creations - Quilts, Art, Whatever by Nina-Marie SayreMy quilting and fiber art creations - along with their creative processNina Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316034317827146338noreply@blogger.comBlogger358125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4364828980944336570.post-22796695241014447452015-07-30T23:45:00.002-04:002015-07-30T23:45:52.191-04:00On Location at QBL - Off the Wall Friday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qzcdzNNbnVw/VbrsAccLr4I/AAAAAAAADFg/OvGswXCgbmU/s1600/IMG_7931%2B%2528640x480%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qzcdzNNbnVw/VbrsAccLr4I/AAAAAAAADFg/OvGswXCgbmU/s400/IMG_7931%2B%2528640x480%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AvltYfntwZI/VbrsPmSGI6I/AAAAAAAADFo/An_u9p2caGE/s1600/IMG_20150727_135629_hdr_kindlephoto-305654049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AvltYfntwZI/VbrsPmSGI6I/AAAAAAAADFo/An_u9p2caGE/s320/IMG_20150727_135629_hdr_kindlephoto-305654049.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Abstracted Collage</td></tr></tbody></table>Greetings from<b> Quilting on the Lake</b>!!&nbsp; Wow!!&nbsp; Its been a world wind week here in Judi Blaydon's<b> ARTful Quilt class.</b>&nbsp; I'm so glad I picked Hopper's Chop Suey for inspiration since it lent itself nicely to an abstract collage.&nbsp;&nbsp; So first we created our collages which we then made line tracings of.&nbsp; These were blown up into full size master patterns.&nbsp; From there we are reproducing the abstraction into<b> </b>fabric. Its as easy as that!&nbsp; Or actually as<span style="font-size: large;"> hard <span style="font-size: small;">as that!</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">OMG</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b> The Angst</b> -<b> The Struggle</b> - <b>The Blood </b>- <b>Sweat and TEARS!!! </b></div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j9bp5Gs5V9o/VbrsxFXJY9I/AAAAAAAADFw/CtujPxd9hw4/s1600/IMG_7930%2B%2528514x640%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j9bp5Gs5V9o/VbrsxFXJY9I/AAAAAAAADFw/CtujPxd9hw4/s320/IMG_7930%2B%2528514x640%2529.jpg" width="257" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">WEDNESDAY ANGST!!!!</td></tr></tbody></table>Okay, so I'm being a drama queen (<i>big surprise</i>), but somewhere around Wednesday, it dawn on me that this was not going to be as easy as I thought.&nbsp; You really needed to look at the inspirational collage to get your values and colors correct.&nbsp; It was hard!&nbsp; But as most hard things, well worth the work!!&nbsp; I'm happy to say by Friday afternoon my quilt top will be done and ready to quilt!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bDZ0wVuECAc/Vbrs9GYvXsI/AAAAAAAADGA/QMkPSrWSl2g/s1600/IMG_7939%2B%2528640x480%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bDZ0wVuECAc/Vbrs9GYvXsI/AAAAAAAADGA/QMkPSrWSl2g/s320/IMG_7939%2B%2528640x480%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Not only is the class going great, but my classmates are great too!!&nbsp; I met a reader in class -<b> Susan Griffin </b>who was inspired by one of my favorite Fauva moment artist,<b> Andre Derain</b>.&nbsp; I love her interpretation&nbsp; - didn't it come out great?!&nbsp; She wanted to use the bold colors of Derain in a straight forward direct manner tempering them with the use of a neutral.&nbsp; I think she was totally successful!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-15KfiCySUB8/Vbrs7dBsXtI/AAAAAAAADF8/4UciruU3t1I/s1600/IMG_7938%2B%2528557x640%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-15KfiCySUB8/Vbrs7dBsXtI/AAAAAAAADF8/4UciruU3t1I/s400/IMG_7938%2B%2528557x640%2529.jpg" width="347" /></a></div><br />I'll share my finish piece next time but here is&nbsp; sneak preview!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FYyPtgtTDKE/Vbrt94Ln1rI/AAAAAAAADGM/QHz-7uAIrmc/s1600/IMG_20150730_153351_hdr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FYyPtgtTDKE/Vbrt94Ln1rI/AAAAAAAADGM/QHz-7uAIrmc/s400/IMG_20150730_153351_hdr.jpg" width="226" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_AradL9Xw8o/VbrumES1UhI/AAAAAAAADGU/M59xfrkFOOM/s1600/life.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_AradL9Xw8o/VbrumES1UhI/AAAAAAAADGU/M59xfrkFOOM/s320/life.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: large;">So what have you been up to creatively??</span></span><!-- start InLinkz script --> <script type="text/javascript">document.write('<scr' + 'ipt type="text/javascript" src="//www.inlinkz.com/cs.php?id=549958&' + new Date().getTime() + '"><\/script>'); </script> <!-- end InLinkz script -->Nina Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316034317827146338noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4364828980944336570.post-77299858615253953122015-07-24T00:00:00.000-04:002015-07-24T00:00:08.382-04:00Quilt Retreat Prepping 101 - Off the Wall Friday<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vA68_dPHe7A/VbGHnjRlU7I/AAAAAAAADEU/UlR1-yeDEYA/s1600/qbl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="116" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vA68_dPHe7A/VbGHnjRlU7I/AAAAAAAADEU/UlR1-yeDEYA/s200/qbl.jpg" width="200" /></a>I'm always a little surprised at what I need to pack for my annual trip to <b>Quilting by the Lake.</b> &nbsp;I mean, I'm only going to be gone for 6 days . . .How much stuff do I need to bring??? <br />The answer...<b>A LOT</b>! &nbsp;In fact, even though this is my 14th time packing, its still a bit daunting. &nbsp;<i>Why?</i>? &nbsp; Because not only do you need to pack all your clothes, toiletries, bedding, kitchen &amp; bath essentials, but you want to make sure you bring with you everything you need to create for a<span style="font-size: large;"> 5 day class.</span><br /><br />Now I know that the teacher supplies a Supply List, but let's face it, this only includes the unique items for the class. &nbsp;Most teachers include &nbsp;some kind of &nbsp;all inclusive sentence like, "<i>Bring all the</i> <i>tools and equipment you need to create</i>". &nbsp;Okay then - that narrows it down. &nbsp;So I thought I would put together a list of things which will make your life easier in class but forgot to pack.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><h3>13 Things You Never thought to Pack for Quilt Retreat &amp; Conference</h3></div><br /><ul><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KjWIdnfdPRo/VbGJNYrljeI/AAAAAAAADEo/NpsuV-5D9_A/s1600/pencil.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KjWIdnfdPRo/VbGJNYrljeI/AAAAAAAADEo/NpsuV-5D9_A/s200/pencil.gif" width="153" /></a><li><b>Zip-Lock Baggies</b>, quart &amp; gallon size - the perfect thing to bring home scraps, pattern pieces and odds &amp; ends notions&nbsp;</li><li><b>Paper Lunch bag</b> - taped to the edge of the table it comes in really handy</li><li><b>A Sketching Pencil set </b>- Most design classes start with some kind of design exercises done on paper - my pencil set with a good erasure, pencil sharpener and varying degree of lead hardness comes in super handy.</li><li><b>A Coffee Mug</b> - No, not for coffee - but to hold your scissors, seam ripper, rotary cutter etc on your table. &nbsp;It will save you a ton of time if you know where those are and not under the mountain of fabric on <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QQYUqbGsnqs/VbGLHma20nI/AAAAAAAADE0/NnJmoOLW4JU/s1600/cuttermug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QQYUqbGsnqs/VbGLHma20nI/AAAAAAAADE0/NnJmoOLW4JU/s200/cuttermug.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>the table</li><li><b>A Water bottle</b> - Sewing is thirsty work and its nice to have your favorite water bottle (preferably with a filter) that can be filled at a near by water fountain.</li><li><b>Extra Pins </b>- you'd be surprised on how many pins you go through!</li><li><b>Nail File &amp; Clippers</b> - Don't you hate when you get a hang nail?!?</li><li><b>Post-A- Notes</b> - perfect to help remember design ideas or leave a note for friend in class</li><li><b>Advil (pain killers) </b>- After 10 hours of sewing in a room full of 20 women - who doesn't need an advil?</li><li><b>Chocolate </b>- perfect for a Pick-Me-Up &nbsp;- or to help make new friends<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZyQdttcIRWE/VbGMDD8J_lI/AAAAAAAADFA/mJ6tHikW0jA/s1600/bottle.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZyQdttcIRWE/VbGMDD8J_lI/AAAAAAAADFA/mJ6tHikW0jA/s200/bottle.JPG" width="100" /></a></div></li><li><b>Business cards</b> - give them out to all your new friends (made by giving them chocolate!)</li><li><b>Mini Spray Bottle</b> - Most conferences supply irons with steam functions but not all sewers like to use steam - so this way &nbsp;- you can have your iron and steam it too!&nbsp;</li><li><b>Painter's Tape </b>- perfect to hang things, but also for labels</li></ul><div><i>hmmmmmmm</i>, now what did I forget??? &nbsp;Any ideas?? &nbsp;What do you like to bring?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">So, what have been up to creatively lately?</span></div><!-- start InLinkz script --> <script type="text/javascript">document.write('<scr' + 'ipt type="text/javascript" src="//www.inlinkz.com/cs.php?id=547920&' + new Date().getTime() + '"><\/script>'); </script> <!-- end InLinkz script -->Nina Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316034317827146338noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4364828980944336570.post-8067796727653920602015-07-17T00:00:00.000-04:002015-07-17T00:00:00.611-04:00Bonnard & Hopper - Off the Wall Friday<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KEABd6YNPL0/VahQgxqr-iI/AAAAAAAADD0/QOqAag1qwVY/s1600/4b96cfd0ec83cbe9c1c0262ddf1dbcd1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KEABd6YNPL0/VahQgxqr-iI/AAAAAAAADD0/QOqAag1qwVY/s320/4b96cfd0ec83cbe9c1c0262ddf1dbcd1.jpg" width="248" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pierre Bonnard</td></tr></tbody></table>Every year when I get ready for my week at Quilting by the Lake, there always seem like a million things to do.&nbsp; This year, my teacher Judi Blayden asked us to prepare pre-class homework.&nbsp; Not only where we to pick the paintings we wanted to abstract but also to do a little research into the painters.<br /><br /><br /><h3>Pierre Bonnard (1867 - 1947)</h3><br />As a French painter and printmaker, he was one of the founders of the Post Impressionist group, Las<br /> Nabis.&nbsp; His work, which has a dream like quality, often featured domestic scenes featuring his wife and family.&nbsp; He used vibrant bold colors to not only express the actual scene itself but also the complex imagery he wanted to express.&nbsp; He is regarded as the greatest&nbsp; colorists of modern art.&nbsp;<br /><br />Since one of my true loves is to play with color, I think that's why I was instantly drawn to Bonnard's work.&nbsp; In The Dining Room in the Country, he slides masterly from the cool colors of the exterior to the warm colors of the interior, evoking a sentimental&nbsp; - at home kind of feeling.&nbsp; The goal of my abstraction is to play with moving cool colors to warm.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dxXCBFqTbeA/VahPZh_RFSI/AAAAAAAADDo/9oMNmF36AII/s1600/the-dining-room-in-the-country-1913.jpg%2521HD%2B%25283%2529%2B%2528640x505%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="315" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dxXCBFqTbeA/VahPZh_RFSI/AAAAAAAADDo/9oMNmF36AII/s400/the-dining-room-in-the-country-1913.jpg%2521HD%2B%25283%2529%2B%2528640x505%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dining Room in the Country</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><h3>Edward Hopper (1882 - 1967)</h3><br />&nbsp;An American painter whose realistic views of&nbsp; urban scenes shock the viewer into recognition of the <br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SNyZy6zrzS8/VahQixyXA1I/AAAAAAAADD8/bmgMwjeYxxg/s1600/2a82d1f3d32edd827647314c8eee237a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SNyZy6zrzS8/VahQixyXA1I/AAAAAAAADD8/bmgMwjeYxxg/s320/2a82d1f3d32edd827647314c8eee237a.jpg" width="320" /></a>strangeness of familiar surroundings.&nbsp; His&nbsp; realistic&nbsp; scenes of everyday life&nbsp; mostly conveyed a mood of loneliness, isolation and anonymity.&nbsp; He continued with his figurative work although the trend during the mid 20th century was abstract.<br /><br />I have always been drawn to Hopper's work.&nbsp; There is always a sense of mystery in his painting which makes me want to ask why are these people so lonely?&nbsp; I love how he uses architectural lines to solidify his scenes.&nbsp; The goal of my abstraction will be to play with architectural features and to create a sense of mystery.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s066dgUROtU/VahPS7ZbasI/AAAAAAAADDg/2ON3vcj19FU/s1600/chop-suey-1929%2B%2528640x530%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="331" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s066dgUROtU/VahPS7ZbasI/AAAAAAAADDg/2ON3vcj19FU/s400/chop-suey-1929%2B%2528640x530%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chop Suey</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Okay homework done!&nbsp;<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #990000;">So what have been up to Creatively?</span></span><br /><br /><br /><!-- start InLinkz script --> <script type="text/javascript">document.write('<scr' + 'ipt type="text/javascript" src="//www.inlinkz.com/cs.php?id=545976&' + new Date().getTime() + '"><\/script>'); </script> <!-- end InLinkz script -->Nina Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316034317827146338noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4364828980944336570.post-64099618639739409292015-07-10T00:00:00.000-04:002015-07-10T00:00:05.956-04:00Setting Limits - Off the Wall Friday<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zUbkBrnFizY/VZ8AR3Y5RoI/AAAAAAAADC0/CLrXGe9Zsbg/s1600/11666189_1052684721454476_7368185963119887319_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zUbkBrnFizY/VZ8AR3Y5RoI/AAAAAAAADC0/CLrXGe9Zsbg/s320/11666189_1052684721454476_7368185963119887319_n.jpg" title="Limits - Creations Arts Quilts Whatever by Nina-Marie Sayre" width="320" /></a><b><span style="font-size: large;">Limits.&nbsp; </span></b>We all have them.&nbsp; Limits on how much we work, we play, we spend, we eat etc. etc.&nbsp; And that's what we explored in this week's lesson in Artist Strength Training class.&nbsp; <b>How do limits effect our creative life?</b><br /><br />Now I'm all about limits.&nbsp; Limits, to me, <b>equal balance</b> and <b>balance equals happiness</b>.&nbsp; Whenever my life gets crazy or I get crazy or a little bit of both, its usually because the balance is off somewhere.&nbsp; And if the balance is off, that means I haven't followed the limits I've set forth in my life.<br /><br />Anyways, Jane challenged us to <b>set up some limits concerning our art studio life.</b>&nbsp; She suggested that we place limitations on what we buy/store in our studios.&nbsp; That part was easy for me.&nbsp; I set up limits for my studio when I moved in.&nbsp; I only keep what I actually need to create in my studio.&nbsp; But with this challenge, I took it one step farther.&nbsp; I officially moved out my dye supplies out, since I only use them a couple times a year.&nbsp; They can be designated to another close by closet.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rGZhdsbfbR8/VZ8A4n07UGI/AAAAAAAADC4/oSSLEiA8uLQ/s1600/IMG_7928%2B%2528640x480%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rGZhdsbfbR8/VZ8A4n07UGI/AAAAAAAADC4/oSSLEiA8uLQ/s400/IMG_7928%2B%2528640x480%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ready to start Sewing again!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Another limit?&nbsp; I always make sure that I give the studio a<b> good clean at the end of each project.</b>&nbsp; I honestly don't know how "stuff" migrates into my small space, but it does.&nbsp; The now uncluttered room always seems a perfect space full of&nbsp; potential possibilities.&nbsp; Plus at the end of&nbsp; project&nbsp; - when chaos again reigns, I always think, "Wow, It looks like I've been working hard in here!"&nbsp; Creating is, after all, messy.<br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M3mRR0w_GZk/VZ8BCUmxNII/AAAAAAAADDA/sEbqhbVx7d4/s1600/IMG_7917%2B%2528640x465%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="232" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M3mRR0w_GZk/VZ8BCUmxNII/AAAAAAAADDA/sEbqhbVx7d4/s320/IMG_7917%2B%2528640x465%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>BEFORE</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />The second half of the lesson concerned that piles of UFO's we all have in our studios.&nbsp; You know the one - its filled with pieces we haven't finished because we lost interest&nbsp; or because we were stuck on a section or because it was turning out ugly/awkward.&nbsp; Jane suggested that we&nbsp; take a piece and give it a make-over, fearlessly changing it for the better.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HvXqpVTTcMg/VZ8BQYigWWI/AAAAAAAADDI/pUIdVswvEUc/s1600/IMG_7923%2B%2528640x436%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="218" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HvXqpVTTcMg/VZ8BQYigWWI/AAAAAAAADDI/pUIdVswvEUc/s320/IMG_7923%2B%2528640x436%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>AFTER</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table>Now my pile isn't that big.&nbsp; Because of limits I placed already on myself, I don't tend to save UFO's.&nbsp; Either they're working (they get finished) or they're not (they get tossed).&nbsp; But I do have have a half a dozen sitting there.&nbsp; The one I chose for the make-over was a piece I did as an exercise for Elizabeth Barton's Masterclass.<br /><br />You know, I never did like it.&nbsp; She liked it but deep down I really didn't.&nbsp; Even after a year, I still don't.&nbsp; There are parts I like and parts I don't.&nbsp; So this week, I spent a bunch of time, taking out the parts I don't, changing the fabric on some and cropping the piece.&nbsp; They really weren't drastic changes but I like the piece much better.&nbsp; Might even get the gumption up to bind it - <i>grin!!</i><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>So I suggest you think about <b>limits you can set up to make your creative life better</b> - think about putting limits on how many projects you start, how many different techniques you use, how many interruptions you tolerate to your studio time, how many competitions you enter, how many commissions you take etc etc.&nbsp; How can limits restore balance in your life?<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;">So What have been&nbsp; up to Creatively?</span></span><br /><br /><br /><!-- start InLinkz script --> <script type="text/javascript">document.write('<scr' + 'ipt type="text/javascript" src="//www.inlinkz.com/cs.php?id=543973&' + new Date().getTime() + '"><\/script>'); </script> <!-- end InLinkz script -->Nina Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316034317827146338noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4364828980944336570.post-56953856818160083322015-07-03T00:00:00.000-04:002015-07-24T04:40:36.330-04:00The Rejection Committee - Off the Wall Friday<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fHws4rFxK1M/VZUav9z7_LI/AAAAAAAADB0/kbPtZsCCEVA/s1600/IMG_7881%2B%2528413x640%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="540" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fHws4rFxK1M/VZUav9z7_LI/AAAAAAAADB0/kbPtZsCCEVA/s640/IMG_7881%2B%2528413x640%2529.jpg" title="Clapboards &amp; Lilies by Nina-Marie Sayre" width="346" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clapboards &amp; Lilies, 28" by 16"</td></tr></tbody></table><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eeEjDQqRoTA/VZUcvKEWwUI/AAAAAAAADCA/zNCR1EL2YjE/s1600/IMG_7885%2B%2528480x640%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eeEjDQqRoTA/VZUcvKEWwUI/AAAAAAAADCA/zNCR1EL2YjE/s320/IMG_7885%2B%2528480x640%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a>"<b>We regret to inform you that your submission,&nbsp; Clapboards and Lilies,&nbsp; was not selected.</b> . . " <i>Sighhhhh.</i>&nbsp; Yes, for the first time in 10 years, my piece for the local mixed arts Lily Festival Art Show was rejected.&nbsp; <span style="font-size: small;">Renounced. Refused!</span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span>Spurned!!</span></b><br /><br />Okay, so I'm a being a bit dramatic, but rejection stings a bit even by the best of us.&nbsp; It just plays to all the doubts in your head that your art really isn't good enough and the jury really didn't want to let you <b>play </b>with them anyways.&nbsp; <br /><br />But really, what hurts more. . . .<b>being rejected </b>by the juror. . . or. . . proving the<b> Rejection Committee</b> in your head they're right?&nbsp; This week our lesson in Jane Dunnewold's Artist Strength Training Class is about dealing with the self fears that all artists have that our work isn't really&nbsp; good enough.&nbsp; Where do they originate?&nbsp; How do we dismantle them? How can we rise above?<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JsYak_FYWXM/VZUeglirjqI/AAAAAAAADCM/KyE1gajefFk/s1600/compare.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JsYak_FYWXM/VZUeglirjqI/AAAAAAAADCM/KyE1gajefFk/s200/compare.JPG" width="200" /></a>Logically, I've never really had a problem with Jury Rejections.&nbsp; I mean, if they can't see that my work would benefit their art show, well obviously, its their lost.&nbsp;<b> My Rejection Committee consists of one essential person - Myself.&nbsp;</b> I'm consistently telling myself that I'm not good enough - that I will never be as good as <b>&lt;Insert Famous Quilter's Name Here&gt; </b>- that obviously I'm just fooling myself that I'm getting better.<br /><br />Now normally, I'm not an insecure person.&nbsp; To tell you the truth, I don't think its really insecurity that is fueling these fears.&nbsp; Its more like the over achiever in me.&nbsp; That's the part of myself that just wants to strive to be better and better and <span style="font-size: large;">better.</span>. . . well. . . until better <b>isn't ever good enough</b>.&nbsp; And really with art,&nbsp; <b>what is good enough?&nbsp;</b> How do you measure&nbsp; -<span style="font-size: large;"><b> Good Art</b></span>?&nbsp; Since the measure of good art is so damn elusive, that's what my Rejection Committee has chosen to pray on.&nbsp; I mean, obviously, they are the only ones that know "Good Art", right??&nbsp; To them,&nbsp; I'm just a plebeian playing with fabric and thread.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5eauNvIb5X8/VZUfdSCyyQI/AAAAAAAADCY/8flTWjGQ128/s1600/negcom.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="254" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5eauNvIb5X8/VZUfdSCyyQI/AAAAAAAADCY/8flTWjGQ128/s320/negcom.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>With the Rejection Committee consistently chiming in their two cents, they clearly need to be<span style="font-size: x-large;"> <b>shut</b> <b>up.</b></span>&nbsp; So how do I fire them?&nbsp; For me, its by stop playing the comparison game.&nbsp; I need to stop worrying if my work is going to measure up to my peers.&nbsp; I need to clearly define why I make art.&nbsp; Do I make it for the validation of artists I truly admire?&nbsp; Or do I make art to declare the mental expressions that run through my head on a daily basis. <br /><br />So on that note, I humbly submit this:<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Dear Rejection Committee,</b></span><br /><br /><b>&nbsp;&nbsp; I regret to inform you that at this time, I can not accept your rejection of my work.&nbsp; I am thrilled that you have been able to submit so many wonderful rejections, but unfortunately, I have found that, as of now, they no longer fit in with&nbsp; the personal view of my work.&nbsp; I would encourage you to submit future rejections, but honestly, I don't want to foster any hope that they will ever again be accepted.</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>My best advice to you is that you find a new endeavor to expend your energies on. </b><br /><b><br /></b><b>Sincerely,</b><br /><b>Me</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>Linking to Muv's...<a href="http://lizzielenard-vintagesewing.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/free-motion-mavericks-week-54-link-up.html">Lizzy Leonard's Vintage Sewing</a> free motion giveaway.</b><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">So What have been up&nbsp; to Creatively?</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span></span><br /><!-- start InLinkz script --> <script type="text/javascript">document.write('<scr' + 'ipt type="text/javascript" src="//www.inlinkz.com/cs.php?id=541547&' + new Date().getTime() + '"><\/script>'); </script> <!-- end InLinkz script -->Nina Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316034317827146338noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4364828980944336570.post-49362925597025465042015-06-26T00:00:00.000-04:002015-06-26T00:00:04.239-04:00Hand dyed Fabric Fest - Off the Wall Friday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0NwYkyLfHXM/VYyXqMGYL4I/AAAAAAAADBE/tgoG45LWDks/s1600/IMG_7894%2B%2528640x412%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0NwYkyLfHXM/VYyXqMGYL4I/AAAAAAAADBE/tgoG45LWDks/s400/IMG_7894%2B%2528640x412%2529.jpg" width="475" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">I'm tired</span>.&nbsp; When I told my boss that I was going to take<b> 3 days off to dye</b>, she gave me a surprised look.&nbsp; Now I never get sick of that pun, but I didn't&nbsp; think I was going to <i>actually </i>die!!&nbsp;&nbsp; I decided to dye up <b>36 fat quarters of fabric a day for three days straight</b>.&nbsp; I'm just finishing up day 2.&nbsp; You wouldn't think it was that hard of&nbsp; work but than again who thinks that you have to:<br /><ol><li>Change over your studio to a dye studio<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YEpGg3AVEsQ/VYyX0demllI/AAAAAAAADBM/d83HEpWZ2HE/s1600/IMG_7887%2B%2528640x393%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YEpGg3AVEsQ/VYyX0demllI/AAAAAAAADBM/d83HEpWZ2HE/s320/IMG_7887%2B%2528640x393%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></li><li>Take out all the supplies and set them up</li><li>Cut up 36 fat quarters of fabric</li><li>Choose the colors &amp; make the color recipes</li><li>&nbsp;Measure out the dyes&nbsp;</li><li>Batch up all 36 fat quarters</li><li>Rinse out the fabric</li><li>Clean Containers &amp; Workspace</li><li>Wash the fabric 3 times</li><li>Iron and fold the fabric</li><li>Repeat all again the next day.</li></ol><b>Did I mention I was tired?</b><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pVIZO4x6Md8/VYyX_YSfwTI/AAAAAAAADBU/XzXER2fbyOw/s1600/dictionary.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pVIZO4x6Md8/VYyX_YSfwTI/AAAAAAAADBU/XzXER2fbyOw/s200/dictionary.JPG" width="153" /></a>But now that I look at the first days work all done, I think <span style="font-size: large;"><b>WOW </b></span>it was worth it.&nbsp; This is the first time I've ever dyed up gradations of muted colors. I got the basic recipes from<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004RQD3LQ/ref=rdr_kindle_ext_tmb"> Linda Johnson's Fabric Dyer's Dictionary.</a>&nbsp; I don't use her exact procedure to dye, but it was a great help on where to begin to get the colors I needed for my upcoming quilt week at Quilting by the Lake.&nbsp; Looking over the fabric, I've fallen in love with the palette.&nbsp; It makes me more excited to go!<br /><br />Something new this year was I weighed out my dye.&nbsp; My husband bought a nice little digital stainless steel scale and it worked perfectly for dyeing.&nbsp; I needed <b>14.5 grams of dye for every yard</b>.&nbsp; &nbsp; It made it that much easier to keep the proportions of each color accurate in a dye mixture.&nbsp;&nbsp; For the most part the colors came out<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L5gPhFhO8pg/VYyYLl_Jr4I/AAAAAAAADBc/6p0b2K6-nNk/s1600/IMG_7892%2B%2528640x477%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L5gPhFhO8pg/VYyYLl_Jr4I/AAAAAAAADBc/6p0b2K6-nNk/s320/IMG_7892%2B%2528640x477%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a>the way they were suppose to.<br /><br />Tomorrow I'm going to finish up today's batch of 36 and also do some<a href="http://ninamariesayre.blogspot.com/2013/07/easy-peasy-red-solo-cup-fabric-hand.html"> red solo cup dyeing </a>of the palette. It should be way more random and unpredictable. &nbsp; Plus if I get some time, I want to do some t-shirts to take with me.&nbsp; Don't you love when people ask you where did you get your shirt and you say, <b>"Oh I dyed it myself!</b>"&nbsp; They think you're so artsy!!<br /><br />One thing I'm really grateful for is my idea to do my dyeing in red solo cups instead of plastic baggies.&nbsp; This is the 4th year using them and they are still holding up like new.&nbsp; They are easy to clean, easy to store and you can dye up to a half yard of fabric in them.&nbsp; Plus, they&nbsp; give me the nice mottled look I like in my fabric. <br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Ooops </i></span>- gotta go - time to put in the soda ash!! <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #990000;">So What have been up to creatively?</span></span> <!-- start InLinkz script --> <script type="text/javascript">document.write('<scr' + 'ipt type="text/javascript" src="//www.inlinkz.com/cs.php?id=539184&' + new Date().getTime() + '"><\/script>'); </script> <!-- end InLinkz script -->Nina Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316034317827146338noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4364828980944336570.post-88831700020256090782015-06-19T00:00:00.000-04:002015-06-19T00:00:00.792-04:00More Lilies ---- Off the Wall Friday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UFNJTMsMz2M/VYNaF1Y6dKI/AAAAAAAADAk/ztADI4adwAo/s1600/IMG_7871%2B%2528640x480%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UFNJTMsMz2M/VYNaF1Y6dKI/AAAAAAAADAk/ztADI4adwAo/s400/IMG_7871%2B%2528640x480%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vjsBYSF0uz8/VYNaOc2PjAI/AAAAAAAADAs/U0gaFBPaVvA/s1600/IMG_7876%2B%2528621x640%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vjsBYSF0uz8/VYNaOc2PjAI/AAAAAAAADAs/U0gaFBPaVvA/s320/IMG_7876%2B%2528621x640%2529.jpg" width="308" /></a>You know, some weeks are more <b>bloggable </b>than others around here!&nbsp; Although I was nice and productive with the Lilies and Birdhouses Take 2 <b>nearly completed</b> - its not very interesting!!&nbsp; It felt <span style="font-size: large;">great</span> though to get back to my sewing machine spending hours adding the thread painting to the piece. <br /><br />&nbsp;Still as I<b> pricked</b> my finger on the many, <i>many </i>pins that hold down the pieces of rough edge applique, I can see why people fuse!!&nbsp; But looking at the finished product, I could see <span style="font-size: large;">texture</span> that non-fusing applique has.&nbsp; There is a little <b>pucker</b> here and there - a<b> puff </b>of fabric now and again that you don't get with fusing.&nbsp; Plus I'll never get all the rough edges nice and smooth.&nbsp; The roughness seems to add just that much texture to the piece.<br /><br />Just a bit more and the piece will be off to the jury.&nbsp; Hopefully it will get in!!<br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: large;">So What have you been up to creatively? </span></span><!-- start InLinkz script --> <script type="text/javascript">document.write('<scr' + 'ipt type="text/javascript" src="//www.inlinkz.com/cs.php?id=537186&' + new Date().getTime() + '"><\/script>'); </script> <!-- end InLinkz script -->Nina Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316034317827146338noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4364828980944336570.post-43496714663346002712015-06-12T00:00:00.000-04:002015-06-12T00:00:05.903-04:00Birdhouses & Lilies, Take 2 - Off the Wall Friday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uE0DP7X_EN4/VXoJKIYWShI/AAAAAAAAC_4/OBjQZSlheho/s1600/IMG_7852%2B%2528537x640%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uE0DP7X_EN4/VXoJKIYWShI/AAAAAAAAC_4/OBjQZSlheho/s320/IMG_7852%2B%2528537x640%2529.jpg" width="268" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><b>W</b></span>ell obviously, they were right when they said that <b>admitting</b> you have a problem is the<b> first </b>step to recovery!&nbsp; After posting last week about the lack of motivation, it was like a weight had been lifted and I had<b><span style="font-size: large;"> no</span></b> problem being productive this week.&nbsp; Everyday I spent sometime in my studio, even if it was for only 45 minutes.&nbsp;<span style="font-size: large;"> Finally</span>!&nbsp; It felt good!</div><br />I worked this week on my <b>annual lily art show entry.</b>&nbsp; With the lack of creativity and motivation this year, I decided to <span style="font-size: large;">rehash</span> an old piece, Birdhouse &amp; Lilies.&nbsp; My husband said, "Didn't you already do that one?"&nbsp; <i>Well</i>. . . yes. . . .and no.&nbsp; I originally made the piece six years ago for the art show, then decided that the focus&nbsp; was the birdhouses and not the lilies.&nbsp; So I decided not to enter it.&nbsp; Not to mention, I had <b>fallen in love</b> with it and didn't want to put it up for sale.&nbsp; Remaking it would be a pleasure, but I still <b>felt guilty </b>of not coming up with a new idea!&nbsp; <br /><br />Now working in series is normal for an artist.&nbsp; But this takes it one step further.&nbsp;&nbsp; You're basically doing several versions of the exact same subject matter.&nbsp; For instance, here is Van Gogh's four different versions of the same windmill, <i>Le Moulin de la Galette (1886) </i>each listed in their respective museum home.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C6mqcDamq-Y/VXoG2tQc9bI/AAAAAAAAC_s/dcoszY-9Jdg/s1600/windmill.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C6mqcDamq-Y/VXoG2tQc9bI/AAAAAAAAC_s/dcoszY-9Jdg/s1600/windmill.JPG" /></a></div>You can see how he played with different perspectives and scale of the windmill.<br /><br />So on that note, I decided <b>not to feel guilty </b>of rehashing an old idea.&nbsp; Obviously if it was a good enough for Van Gogh, it was good enough for me!&nbsp; Besides there was always a part of me that wanted to make the lilies the star of the piece rather than the birdhouses.&nbsp; Also, I wanted to make the lilies look a bit more life like.&nbsp; I always felt that they look too cartoonish in the first piece.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OjHWPiqec5Q/VXoKTzdtrdI/AAAAAAAADAE/eE-3GtX8wtQ/s1600/IMG_7863%2B%2528473x640%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OjHWPiqec5Q/VXoKTzdtrdI/AAAAAAAADAE/eE-3GtX8wtQ/s400/IMG_7863%2B%2528473x640%2529.jpg" width="295" /></a></div><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-umDj8lIUfuY/VXoKfr2kXuI/AAAAAAAADAM/lRncydtXTz8/s1600/IMG_7856%2B%2528640x629%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-umDj8lIUfuY/VXoKfr2kXuI/AAAAAAAADAM/lRncydtXTz8/s200/IMG_7856%2B%2528640x629%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a>So in the new version, I <b>cropped </b>the piece to highlight the lilies, did a new <b>updated version</b> of the lilies and made the piece <b>over all smaller.</b>&nbsp; I changed the size of the piece because this one is made especially to be sold.&nbsp; Not only will it take a shorter time to make it (keeping the price down) but not everyone has as much wall space to fill as me!!&nbsp; For that matter, with the cropping the piece, it changed the orientation of it from landscape to portrait.<br /><br /><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">O</span></b>hhh</i> and in case you're wondering how I got the shape of the lilies this time, I already had a file of photos of lilies that had been printed out in various sizes.&nbsp; From there I made line drawings and then made&nbsp; tracing paper patterns.&nbsp; Because they were tracing paper, they were easily put onto just the right spot of hand dyed fabric to be fussy cut.<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: large;">So what have been up to creatively?</span></span><br /><br /><br /><!-- start InLinkz script --> <script type="text/javascript">document.write('<scr' + 'ipt type="text/javascript" src="//www.inlinkz.com/cs.php?id=535169&' + new Date().getTime() + '"><\/script>'); </script> <!-- end InLinkz script -->Nina Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316034317827146338noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4364828980944336570.post-57126338332844607762015-06-05T05:20:00.000-04:002015-06-05T05:20:49.127-04:00Creative Reboot - Off the Wall Friday<span style="font-size: large;"><b>I</b></span>f you've been paying attention, you might have noticed that I've been in a bit of a <b><span style="font-size: small;">creative funk </span></b><br />lately.&nbsp; Its not that I don't have ideas.&nbsp; I have ideas<span style="font-size: large;"> a-plenty</span>!!&nbsp; Its that I don't have the motivation to put those ideas into action.&nbsp; Because of this I've created busy work myself!<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6Lh2TVLYCAQ/VXD4e-RNbaI/AAAAAAAAC_M/t60CKn2s4t8/s1600/11282077_823316644384712_231483307_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6Lh2TVLYCAQ/VXD4e-RNbaI/AAAAAAAAC_M/t60CKn2s4t8/s320/11282077_823316644384712_231483307_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><b>&nbsp;</b><br /><b>&nbsp;Busy Work While Awaiting Motivation&nbsp;</b><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><ul><li>&nbsp;<b>Clean out the studio.&nbsp; Reorganize fabric.&nbsp; Do a massive throw-out.&nbsp; </b>I like to work in an unclutter space<b> </b>because to me <b>clutter = distraction</b>.&nbsp; Of course, you could argue that cleaning the clutter is a big distraction in itself! </li></ul><ul><li><b>&nbsp; Make a Dharma Trading Order. </b>Thanks to my generous mother, I got a nice Dharma gift certificate for my birthday.&nbsp; You know what that means???&nbsp;<span style="font-size: large;"><b> New Dye</b></span>!!!&nbsp; But how does one pick with so many colors to chose from???&nbsp; I spent an hour reorganizing (of course)&nbsp; the dyes I already have and several more picking out the new colors I'll need for this upcoming year.&nbsp; I mean <i>seriously</i>. . . .can a girl have<span style="font-size: large;"> too</span> many dye colors?</li></ul><ul><li><b>Doing my homework for my upcoming class in July.</b>&nbsp; Now its a good thing to have it done, but does it have to be done 2 months in advance?&nbsp;</li></ul>Because this procrastinating&nbsp; was becoming a pattern I decided this week to put an <span style="font-size: large;"><b>end</b></span> to it.&nbsp;&nbsp; I&nbsp; <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RlJKFZ3uqF8/VXD4y8IYsXI/AAAAAAAAC_U/JyLGTlQVIAI/s1600/IMG_7847%2B%2528582x640%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RlJKFZ3uqF8/VXD4y8IYsXI/AAAAAAAAC_U/JyLGTlQVIAI/s200/IMG_7847%2B%2528582x640%2529.jpg" width="181" /></a></div>finally drafted out my latest lily project that needs to be done in 3 weeks.&nbsp; Its not the most creative project I've done lately but it will get me sewing again on something new!<br /><br />Second I joined Jane Dunnwold <a href="http://www.janedunnewold.com/ast/">Artist Strength Training </a>class.&nbsp; A smart lady knows when to ask for help and Jane has designed an online class just for what ails me. &nbsp; To tell you the truth, even though I read the class syllabus, I'm still not&nbsp; quite sure what to expect.&nbsp; But since I've had Jane before, I know I can trust her to help get me back on the creative track.&nbsp; <br /><br />You know - like a<b><span style="font-size: large;"> creative re-boot!</span></b> <br /><br />So has this ever happen to you. . . . gotten a <span style="font-size: small;"><b>case of the blahs</b></span>? Not creative block but motivation drain?&nbsp; What do you do?<br /><br />Please tell me you've been doing something more interesting creatively than me!!! <!-- start InLinkz script --> <script type="text/javascript">document.write('<scr' + 'ipt type="text/javascript" src="//www.inlinkz.com/cs.php?id=533029&' + new Date().getTime() + '"><\/script>'); </script> <!-- end InLinkz script -->Nina Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316034317827146338noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4364828980944336570.post-20822586328793620112015-05-29T00:02:00.000-04:002015-05-29T00:02:45.887-04:00 Identity of a Quilter. . . Off the Wall FridayBecause of a work schedule change this week, my studio day won't be till tomorrow!&nbsp; I did want to share a little graphic project&nbsp; that I have been working on.&nbsp; I love playing around with photo editors and my word program!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OCxzj0QtDe4/VWfiWQyvpeI/AAAAAAAAC-0/kqqiwN1E1XY/s1600/the%2Bquilter.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="700" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OCxzj0QtDe4/VWfiWQyvpeI/AAAAAAAAC-0/kqqiwN1E1XY/s640/the%2Bquilter.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>My studio right now is a <strike>mess of</strike> mass of hand dyes as I organize them trying to figure out what I'm going to have to dye in the upcoming month.&nbsp; Its amazing how much fabric I went through in the last couple of years!!<br /><br />My internet connection has been spotty - so we'll see if I can get this uploaded!!<br /><br /><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;">So What have been up to creatively??</span></span><!-- start InLinkz script --> <script type="text/javascript">document.write('<scr' + 'ipt type="text/javascript" src="//www.inlinkz.com/cs.php?id=530339&' + new Date().getTime() + '"><\/script>'); </script> <!-- end InLinkz script -->Nina Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316034317827146338noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4364828980944336570.post-10004341665302936482015-05-22T00:00:00.000-04:002015-05-22T00:00:08.119-04:00The Colors of Chop Suey. . . . Off the Wall Friday<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--Y7n3m6vnvw/VVvkPp6uqEI/AAAAAAAAC9o/VgWUrEy2yYo/s1600/chopsuey.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="331" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--Y7n3m6vnvw/VVvkPp6uqEI/AAAAAAAAC9o/VgWUrEy2yYo/s400/chopsuey.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chop Suey, Edward Hopper, 1929</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Thanks </b><span style="font-size: small;">e</span></span>veryone for all the great responses last week, on what painting I should pick for Judi Blaydon's class -&nbsp; the ARTful Quilt. Most of the responses reenforced the idea that emotionally, I too was drawn to Giacometti. I mean, what's <span style="font-size: large;">not</span> to love about bold colors and mother with children? I thought the Kirchner and the <b>Hopper</b> though would work better through the abstraction exercises of the class I asked Judi to weigh in and her response - typical for a teacher was - <b>Why don't you look at more Hoppers?</b> So, I did!<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3gRyNje40Kc/VVvlaW7P72I/AAAAAAAAC-A/ywiu7FpSSkQ/s1600/ab2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3gRyNje40Kc/VVvlaW7P72I/AAAAAAAAC-A/ywiu7FpSSkQ/s1600/ab2.JPG" /></a></div>&nbsp; <br />Guess what?&nbsp; I changed my mind!&nbsp; After delving into the fascinating work of Edward Hopper, I found the painting&nbsp;<span style="font-size: large;"><b> Chop Suey, </b></span>1929.&nbsp; I was immediately drawn to Hopper's use of<span style="font-size: large;"> light </span>and <span style="font-size: large;">the color palette</span>.&nbsp;&nbsp; Plus in this painting, the subjects don't seemed so haunted.&nbsp; Am I the<br />only one that feels like I move right from viewer to <span style="font-size: large;"><b>voyeur </b></span>when looking at Hopper paintings? Not to mention, there are so many great - what Elizabeth Barton calls, "Bits and Pieces" in this piece.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sKXzWyCBHbQ/VVvlKwbE2PI/AAAAAAAAC94/XYqspt3XDwE/s1600/ab3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="169" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sKXzWyCBHbQ/VVvlKwbE2PI/AAAAAAAAC94/XYqspt3XDwE/s200/ab3.JPG" width="200" /></a>My favorite way to find <span style="font-size: large;"><b>"bits and pieces"</b></span> is to use a photo editor.&nbsp; Taking the image, in this case the painting and crop out&nbsp; a quadrilateral section that looks interesting.&nbsp; Taking it out of the original piece will highlight how interesting the composition of the section&nbsp; is on its own.&nbsp; You can play with this over and over till you find one that you like!&nbsp;<b> <i>Wha-laaaa</i></b> - an inspiration for an abstract piece!<br /><br />Now that I have the painting picked out, I can <b>analyze the palette </b>I need to bring to class. &nbsp; Judi wants us to bring fabrics inspired from the painting of our choice some of which will probably need to be dyed.&nbsp; My favorite way to pick out the colors of a photo is to use<a href="http://www.colorexplorer.com/"> Color Explorer,</a> an online color analyzer. &nbsp;&nbsp; Its super easy and free to use.&nbsp; All you do is upload your photo to the site, pick out how many colors you want chosen from the photo and how detailed you want the colors to be and click!!&nbsp; Instant color Analysis!<br /><br />For <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Chop Suey</b></span>,</span> I chose 25 colors with a semi-fine detail setting.&nbsp; Here are the results.<br /><b>Cool right?!</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OTjcAzRV8Ko/VVvmRggJoSI/AAAAAAAAC-M/-psaLM3sfqQ/s1600/colorpalette.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OTjcAzRV8Ko/VVvmRggJoSI/AAAAAAAAC-M/-psaLM3sfqQ/s400/colorpalette.JPG" width="500" /></a></div><br />Once I saw the palette laid out this way, I knew that I had chosen the right photo.&nbsp; I love all the colors and the painting has a really nice range of values from the lightest of lights to the darks.&nbsp; I liked the original painting, New York Movie, but for that one Hopper chose a warm dark palette without a lot of contrast.&nbsp; This one will be more fun colors to play with for class.<br /><br />Now with the colors all picked, I can look at my hand dyed fabrics (as well as my commercial stash!) and see what I need to dye up in June. I'll need to bring the a wide range of the values from colors. <br /><br /><b>Thanks again</b> for the comments - they really made me think!!<br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: large;">So what are you doing creatively?!</span></span><!-- start InLinkz script --> <script type="text/javascript">document.write('<scr' + 'ipt type="text/javascript" src="//www.inlinkz.com/cs.php?id=528229&' + new Date().getTime() + '"><\/script>'); </script> <!-- end InLinkz script -->Nina Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316034317827146338noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4364828980944336570.post-55557692036714207622015-05-15T00:00:00.000-04:002015-05-15T00:00:05.182-04:00Picking a Painting - Off the Wall Friday<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XVrqcFjNQbg/VVVfrIC16hI/AAAAAAAAC88/RHtrcInU_EY/s1600/NYmovie.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="315" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XVrqcFjNQbg/VVVfrIC16hI/AAAAAAAAC88/RHtrcInU_EY/s400/NYmovie.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New York Movie, Edward Hopper, 1939</td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QRo5AqTzDVM/VVVfNCyIVmI/AAAAAAAAC80/51yXOoxHRCE/s1600/Berthe.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QRo5AqTzDVM/VVVfNCyIVmI/AAAAAAAAC80/51yXOoxHRCE/s320/Berthe.JPG" width="291" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before the Mirror, Berthe Morisot , 1890</td></tr></tbody></table>Have you ever noticed how men&nbsp; are obsessed with the naked female form?&nbsp; I know what you're thinking. . . <i>Aduhhhh, </i>Nina, are you just noticing that<b> now</b>?&nbsp; Well no, actually.&nbsp; I was about 12 when I first noticed.<br /><br />Still, its a bit of shock to go through my two favorite painting art books (World Art, the Essential Illustrated History and 1001 Paintings You Must See Before You Die) and find<b> page after page </b>of naked ladies.&nbsp; They are doing a variety of things but into the 19th century, you can see how how the male artist are fascinated with a women's toilette.&nbsp;&nbsp; So many paintings of ladies bathing, brushing their hair, dressing, undressing etc. . . . you get the picture.. . . and if not . . . I'm sure you can find a painting of it easily. I guess I never realized how big a part naked ladies played in the history of art!<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vj86RSD275g/VVVgCR3DsoI/AAAAAAAAC9E/fa-EC6Yurqc/s1600/kirchner.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vj86RSD275g/VVVgCR3DsoI/AAAAAAAAC9E/fa-EC6Yurqc/s320/kirchner.JPG" width="257" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Königstein with Red Church, 1916 Ernst Ludwig Kirchner </td></tr></tbody></table>Anyways, you're probably wondering what naked women have to do with my current creative journey.&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>Welllll.</i> . . I spent a lot of time in the last two weeks, <b>scouring </b>my art books looking for just the right painting for my upcoming class with Judi Blaydon's,<a href="http://ninamariesayre.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-artful-quilt-off-wall-friday.html"> the ARTful Quilt</a>. &nbsp; Since Judi said you could pick any painting you want, you'd think it wouldn't be that hard right?<br /><br />&nbsp;<span style="font-size: large;">Wrong!</span>!&nbsp; You need to pick out a painting that <b>visually attracts and intrigues you</b>. Also, it has to&nbsp; have enough color, patterns and textures so that it can springboard for your future abstraction.&nbsp; We'll be putting the painting through it paces since we'll be doing a series of exercises and abstractions to come up with a new inspired composition.&nbsp; <br /><br /><br /><b>After much back and forth</b> I've narrowed it down to these four.&nbsp; I was thinking I could get your opinion and thoughts on which you like the best and why.&nbsp; As for my opinion. . . <b>I love them all.</b> The finalists here all have colors and shapes I love.&nbsp; I tried to pick a painting that I won't get sick of even though we'll be doing an extensive study of them.&nbsp; They all have palettes I love and I don't know a lot about any of the artists so it will be fun to do the required homework on their backgrounds.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-29LPUN5Ci7I/VVVgvVqQ2YI/AAAAAAAAC9M/LpRo9-sAR-E/s1600/forth.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="350" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-29LPUN5Ci7I/VVVgvVqQ2YI/AAAAAAAAC9M/LpRo9-sAR-E/s400/forth.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GIOVANNI GIACOMETTI (1868-1933) Sotto il sambuco (Unter dem Holunder), 1911 </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>So which would you choose and why?</b></span><br /><br />ohhh and<br /><br /><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;">What have you been up to creatively?</span></span><!-- start InLinkz script --> <script type="text/javascript">document.write('<scr' + 'ipt type="text/javascript" src="//www.inlinkz.com/cs.php?id=526239&' + new Date().getTime() + '"><\/script>'); </script> <!-- end InLinkz script -->Nina Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316034317827146338noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4364828980944336570.post-79592699985700240292015-05-08T00:00:00.000-04:002015-05-08T00:00:02.258-04:00Off the Wall FridayWell another 6 day work week for me - no creative time :(&nbsp;&nbsp; But I thought you might like to see the finish dress&nbsp; - Tessa had fun being princess for the day. From these photos you'd never know she was only 4' 10!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YxUY6ynT-Hc/VUwVsSpJ7oI/AAAAAAAAC8I/EWqsTMX7iG0/s1600/Ri8cvghv4JChdb56nnHlPc_0d19ZRBooAXLXzwbuDzk%2CJh7ByFiIlN2LxKiExFntLPeaz2LAG0SwGQJXRuszOFM_kindlephoto-349584500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YxUY6ynT-Hc/VUwVsSpJ7oI/AAAAAAAAC8I/EWqsTMX7iG0/s320/Ri8cvghv4JChdb56nnHlPc_0d19ZRBooAXLXzwbuDzk%2CJh7ByFiIlN2LxKiExFntLPeaz2LAG0SwGQJXRuszOFM_kindlephoto-349584500.jpg" width="244" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cWc5SjH5toE/VUwVuKrD6II/AAAAAAAAC8Q/Em6nCreC_Fw/s1600/7GYh0AuxVRGUyy8vzOWs2sRY79huKEr3YRGY2JhYV6U_kindlephoto-349043842.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cWc5SjH5toE/VUwVuKrD6II/AAAAAAAAC8Q/Em6nCreC_Fw/s200/7GYh0AuxVRGUyy8vzOWs2sRY79huKEr3YRGY2JhYV6U_kindlephoto-349043842.jpg" width="191" /></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oeZbMADEYUM/VUwVp2fTStI/AAAAAAAAC8A/DHM_wrBi8hE/s1600/IMG_247577469238912_kindlephoto-247777992.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="540" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oeZbMADEYUM/VUwVp2fTStI/AAAAAAAAC8A/DHM_wrBi8hE/s640/IMG_247577469238912_kindlephoto-247777992.jpg" width="196" /></a></div>Thanks for indulging a proud momma - grin!! I promise its back to creative business next week!!<br /><br /><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;">So what have been up to creatively?</span></span><!-- start InLinkz script --> <script type="text/javascript">document.write('<scr' + 'ipt type="text/javascript" src="//www.inlinkz.com/cs.php?id=524082&' + new Date().getTime() + '"><\/script>'); </script> <!-- end InLinkz script -->Nina Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316034317827146338noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4364828980944336570.post-41941873376043991402015-05-01T00:00:00.000-04:002015-05-01T00:00:10.668-04:00Prom Week at Off the Wall Friday<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GU0Gu54ocbk/VUK6DxZR_vI/AAAAAAAAC7c/cPgpuJRgSys/s1600/11173504_811875765528800_618090370_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GU0Gu54ocbk/VUK6DxZR_vI/AAAAAAAAC7c/cPgpuJRgSys/s1600/11173504_811875765528800_618090370_n.jpg" height="450" width="263" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the dress right out of the package!</td></tr></tbody></table>Did you know. . . . that you can go on Ebay, pick out a<b> prom dress</b> and have it <span style="font-size: large;">custom made </span>for under $150??&nbsp; Yep, I found this out when faced with the dilemma of finding a prom dress to fit the petite measurements and quirky style of my 17 year old.<br /><br />All we had to do was <b>pick a dress</b>, send them her <b>measurements</b> and pick one of the <b>60 colors</b> offered and in less than 30 days it arrived at our door step in Pennsylvania.&nbsp; Oh, did I mention that the Ebay seller was in <b><span style="font-size: large;">China</span></b>?&nbsp; And that the dress was amazingly well made??&nbsp; I'm still a bit in awe.&nbsp; I'm not sure if I'm more surprised that you can have a dressed customed made for that price or that it actually showed up just as promised!<br /><br />I did have to make a few adjustments&nbsp; today though.&nbsp; It seems that we didn't realize the dress had a long train which isn't quite the thing when you're <span style="font-size: large;"><b>4' 10"</b></span>.&nbsp; Between alterations and dental surgery, no creative time :( for Momma.&nbsp; Still there is always next week!<br /><br />So I'll let you all carry "Off the Wall Friday" this week!<br /><br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What have been up to Creatively?</b></span></span><!-- start InLinkz script --> <script type="text/javascript">document.write('<scr' + 'ipt type="text/javascript" src="//www.inlinkz.com/cs.php?id=521478&' + new Date().getTime() + '"><\/script>'); </script> <!-- end InLinkz script -->Nina Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316034317827146338noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4364828980944336570.post-68277260337526667652015-04-24T00:00:00.000-04:002015-04-24T00:00:01.078-04:00Watchin' the Paint Dry - Off the Wall Friday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nGPdURyMBP4/VTlcuUcKzcI/AAAAAAAAC6c/eVJSKsBciWs/s1600/IMG_7810%2B(640x514).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nGPdURyMBP4/VTlcuUcKzcI/AAAAAAAAC6c/eVJSKsBciWs/s1600/IMG_7810%2B(640x514).jpg" height="160" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>S</b></span>o, I have a confession.&nbsp; Now that spring rush is done at work, I took a couple of days off to catch up a bit around the house and spend some major time in my studio.&nbsp; Instead, I <span style="font-size: large;">slept</span> 5 hours on the couch. <i>*Blush*</i><br /><br />The good news is that I did get a couple of hours in the studio, <b>painting my organza</b>.&nbsp; For the last month, I've been reading books and blogs on how other artists have treated their organza.&nbsp; And you know what I found?&nbsp; That they basically winged it.&nbsp; So that was <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-32MH7qAaxW8/VTlc3cO4SlI/AAAAAAAAC6k/geNYXPIDFp0/s1600/IMG_7813%2B(640x353).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-32MH7qAaxW8/VTlc3cO4SlI/AAAAAAAAC6k/geNYXPIDFp0/s1600/IMG_7813%2B(640x353).jpg" height="110" width="200" /></a></div>what I was going to do. <br /><br />Basically, all I did was <b>play with paint, water, and the silk</b>.&nbsp; I sprayed it down with water and painted it orange with textile paint (remember I suppose to be working on my lily project - I'm partial to day lilies).&nbsp; I mixed yellow in.&nbsp; I used it as a base and made a <b>monoprint</b> with another piece.&nbsp; I made another adding more paint - <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yt5NC1nUJhs/VTlc-YM3JvI/AAAAAAAAC6s/p5ccpT4aAUI/s1600/IMG_7812%2B(640x480).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yt5NC1nUJhs/VTlc-YM3JvI/AAAAAAAAC6s/p5ccpT4aAUI/s1600/IMG_7812%2B(640x480).jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>less water.&nbsp; It just went on and on until I ran out of time.<br />And <b><span style="font-size: large;">space.</span></b><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NfxI5iA1SFo/VTldHrb1GAI/AAAAAAAAC60/NG_Bd4M3-Ik/s1600/IMG_7811%2B(476x640).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NfxI5iA1SFo/VTldHrb1GAI/AAAAAAAAC60/NG_Bd4M3-Ik/s1600/IMG_7811%2B(476x640).jpg" height="200" width="148" /></a>Which brings up another problem of this whole painting fabric thing.&nbsp; Spring on Lake Erie is not a pretty thing most days.&nbsp; We still have a lot of gray, cold, wet, weather.&nbsp;<span style="font-size: large;"> Oh, and snow.</span>&nbsp; (Yes it <br />snowed today).&nbsp; So, where to hang all of these to dry.&nbsp; I mean if I wait for it be a warm sunny day to paint, I might never do any.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hOfRpIBshb4/VTldYzfkvhI/AAAAAAAAC68/-IcBMXKib3M/s1600/dry2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hOfRpIBshb4/VTldYzfkvhI/AAAAAAAAC68/-IcBMXKib3M/s1600/dry2.JPG" height="171" width="200" /></a></div>With a little bit of surfing, I found some really good ideas.&nbsp; They have&nbsp; i<b>ndoor clothes lines</b> that are temporary - they open and retract.&nbsp; Very cool!&nbsp; They have them in this model that does several or the single ones.&nbsp; Now what I worry about keeping it inside is where does it go?&nbsp; My studio isn't that big and who wants drying paint around their house?!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6wUEXZPRvco/VTlgjH5Rk3I/AAAAAAAAC7I/WIkbK-Ye_rw/s1600/dry.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6wUEXZPRvco/VTlgjH5Rk3I/AAAAAAAAC7I/WIkbK-Ye_rw/s1600/dry.JPG" height="186" width="200" /></a></div><br />So my other idea is that my Victorian house came with a big wrap around Victorian porch.&nbsp; What if . . . <strike> I</strike>. . .&nbsp; my husband hung hooks up on the porch, then when I get on the painting mood simply strung line on the hooks.&nbsp; It could stay a while and then taken down when the paint was put away.&nbsp; Plus with the&nbsp; porch&nbsp; - it offers coverage from the rain, its right off&nbsp; my studio,&nbsp; and if these are a few drips it won't matter.&nbsp; Now, I just gotta get Paul to do it for me. . . . grin.<br /><br />I still have a couple more days off so I'm sure that I've gotten my nap in, I should get more done on this project!<br /><br /><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;">So What have been up to creatively?</span></span><!-- start InLinkz script --> <script type="text/javascript">document.write('<scr' + 'ipt type="text/javascript" src="//www.inlinkz.com/cs.php?id=518931&' + new Date().getTime() + '"><\/script>'); </script> <!-- end InLinkz script -->Nina Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316034317827146338noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4364828980944336570.post-36793503185662352332015-04-17T00:00:00.000-04:002015-04-17T21:14:36.466-04:00The ARTful Quilt - Off the Wall Friday<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--GLoIuQp7YY/VTBaUBvVTsI/AAAAAAAAC5w/gtKGoR1qfl8/s1600/dining.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--GLoIuQp7YY/VTBaUBvVTsI/AAAAAAAAC5w/gtKGoR1qfl8/s1600/dining.JPG" height="256" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Dining Room - Bonnard</td></tr></tbody></table>This week I got final confirmation on this year's <a href="http://quiltingbythelake.com/qbl.cfm">Quilting by the Lake</a> class - The ARTful Quilt taught by <a href="http://www.judiwarrenblaydon.com/">Judi Blaydon</a>.&nbsp; This will be my first class with Judi although for literally years, I've walked by her classroom peaking in and thought - OMG I need to take a class with her.&nbsp; The room hummed with creativity with color everywhere.&nbsp; Finally this year I have my chance!<br /><br />The class sounds just up my alley too!&nbsp; We are to <b>pick one painting</b>, one of the four she suggested or one of our own and from that derive our own abstract quilt.&nbsp; We'll do studies using parts of the painting<span style="font-size: large;"><b> abstracting</b></span> them in a variety of ways.&nbsp; From there, we'll pick a favored composition and let the painting's colors be the inspiration for the palette. The quilts will be constructed in the collage method using both fusing and piecing. &nbsp; I guarantee you - mine will be more piecing than fusing, <i>grin</i>.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ImaAomWN4LI/VTBbit_AAuI/AAAAAAAAC58/4shGyhOQTCw/s1600/qbl2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ImaAomWN4LI/VTBbit_AAuI/AAAAAAAAC58/4shGyhOQTCw/s1600/qbl2.JPG" height="244" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me taking Rosalie Dace Class on Paul Klee</td></tr></tbody></table>Judi's chose four impressionist paintings for the base inspiration - Bonnard – The Dining Room in the Country, Matisse – The Window, Monet – Women in the Garden, and Vuillard – The Flower Dress.&nbsp; Still, she was very clear that you can <b>pick your own painting</b> with the composition and colors that spoke to you.&nbsp; Not to mention, the class homework asked us to study up on the painter before we arrived.&nbsp; What a perfect excuse to spend some times perusing my favorite art books!<br /><br /><br />If you never been to an art quilt class at Quilting by the Lake, I<span style="font-size: large;"> highly</span> recommend it.&nbsp; It offers 5, 3 and 2 day classes for two weeks the last week of July.&nbsp; Its held in Syracuse, NY on the campus of a lovely community college.&nbsp; You stay in college suites (4-5 people to a suite) with single and double room options.&nbsp; All suites come with a full kitchen for breakfast while lunch and dinner are served in the dining hall.&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aGZah0mF4VM/VTBbxbMxuoI/AAAAAAAAC6E/733ZErUxbDo/s1600/QBL.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aGZah0mF4VM/VTBbxbMxuoI/AAAAAAAAC6E/733ZErUxbDo/s1600/QBL.JPG" height="207" width="400" /></a></div><br />This will be my 14th year at QBL and it really is my favorite place to vacation.&nbsp; While I'm there I can eat, breath and live art quilting for 5 days straight without the rest of the world honing in.&nbsp; I'm around 250 ladies who understand exactly what I do and why I do it.&nbsp; No matter how my class goes (some have been better than others), I always come back creatively rejuvenated and ready to take on the next leg of my artist journey.&nbsp; <br /><br />So if you think Judi's class sound as much fun as I do, there are still spots open.&nbsp; For that matter, its not to late to join in on Quilting by the Lake this year.&nbsp; If <b>you have any questions about the conference please just leave them in the comments section </b>and I'll answer there so that everyone can read.<br /><br /><i>sighhhhhh</i>. . . . . . now just to pick a painting. . . . . . .<br /><br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: large;">What have been up to creatively?</span></span><!-- start InLinkz script --> <script type="text/javascript">document.write('<scr' + 'ipt type="text/javascript" src="//www.inlinkz.com/cs.php?id=516944&' + new Date().getTime() + '"><\/script>'); </script> <!-- end InLinkz script -->Nina Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316034317827146338noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4364828980944336570.post-27377314078988210842015-04-10T00:00:00.000-04:002015-04-10T00:00:08.305-04:00Just a Little Imagination - Off the Wall Friday<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CIbQGSOXveo/SjFrBFHzZYI/AAAAAAAAAA0/soVMAACUYKE/s1600/Ecc11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Creations by Nina-Marie Sayre" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CIbQGSOXveo/SjFrBFHzZYI/AAAAAAAAAA0/soVMAACUYKE/s1600/Ecc11.jpg" height="300" title="Ecc 11:7 by Nina-Marie Sayre" width="400" /></a>With Spring, comes allergies and <b><span style="font-size: large;">boy </span></b>did I get hard with an attack this year.&nbsp; Of course, it would hit when at work we're in the middle of <b>spring rush</b> and I'm working 6 days.&nbsp; So all I did was sleep and work and <b>work and sleep</b>.&nbsp; Not a lot of time to create but there was a lot of time <span style="font-size: large;">think.</span><br /><br /><br />Its amazing what a <b>little imagination</b> can do. All week,&nbsp; I've tried several ideas concerning my next lily piece out in my head.&nbsp; Too bad they haven't invented a way to <b>digitize a mental idea</b> - <i>well at least not yet.</i>&nbsp; The <span style="font-size: large;">Imagination</span> is a marvelous thing.&nbsp; With a little bit of focus and practice you can create without lifting a finger.&nbsp; What I took to doing this week was coming up with a clear composition in my mind and then just making a very rough sketch just to remind me of the idea.&nbsp; Little by little I whittled out the dogs and had a second look at the keepers.&nbsp; Finally today I settled on one.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f9WldPuXgAY/VScsh9js5cI/AAAAAAAAC5c/xPbdbuPGjk4/s1600/Alice.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f9WldPuXgAY/VScsh9js5cI/AAAAAAAAC5c/xPbdbuPGjk4/s1600/Alice.JPG" height="320" width="243" /></a></div><br />My blog heading is a picture of one my favorite art quilts, <a href="http://ninamariesayre.blogspot.com/2009/06/birdhouses-and-lilies.html">Ecclesiastes 11:7 (aka the birdhouses) .</a>&nbsp;&nbsp; That was <i>suppose</i> to be a lily quilt but the birdhouses took over.&nbsp; <span style="font-size: large;">What if</span> - yeah I know it was truly a What if moment - <span style="font-size: large;">What if </span>I did <b>another version </b>of the quilt where the lilies got a chance to shine?&nbsp; While my work day was a blur of fashion flurry, I started working out a nice simple composition&nbsp; that wouldn't drive me nuts.&nbsp; Its funny how my mouth and fingers were doing one thing but my <b>imagination was creating </b>something totally different.<br /><br />My first day off is Sunday - <span style="font-size: large;">finally </span>- so I'll start painting up the organza silk then and work out a proper sketch.&nbsp; I can't wait!<br /><br /><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;">So What have been up to creatively?</span></span><!-- start InLinkz script --> <script type="text/javascript">document.write('<scr' + 'ipt type="text/javascript" src="//www.inlinkz.com/cs.php?id=514765&' + new Date().getTime() + '"><\/script>'); </script> <!-- end InLinkz script -->Nina Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316034317827146338noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4364828980944336570.post-83299515564896987072015-04-03T00:00:00.000-04:002015-04-03T00:00:05.616-04:00Abstracted Lilies - Off the Wall Friday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JueegjjLk3k/VR3gUtNazjI/AAAAAAAAC4M/QG1tmciaPQM/s1600/lilies1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JueegjjLk3k/VR3gUtNazjI/AAAAAAAAC4M/QG1tmciaPQM/s1600/lilies1.JPG" height="263" width="400" /></a></div><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Uw_q__LlQVM/VR3gb-P8IrI/AAAAAAAAC4U/S1z79V44GyQ/s1600/lilies5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Uw_q__LlQVM/VR3gb-P8IrI/AAAAAAAAC4U/S1z79V44GyQ/s1600/lilies5.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a>Here on Lake Erie, April means<span style="font-size: large;"> <b>Spring</b>.</span>&nbsp; <i>I think.</i>&nbsp; We still have piles of snow scattered here and there and only a few <b>brave </b>crocuses have shown their heads, but yes its Spring.&nbsp; With that, I start thinking<b> lilies</b>. A local gallery holds an annual&nbsp; Lily Art Festival which features a great mixed media juried show.&nbsp; I love entering since one of the few shows my husband and I enter together.&nbsp; Plus its great to see how different artists interpret my favorite flower!<br /><br />So I started my annual lily inspiration hunt. I have <b>folders of flower photos</b> (say that three times fast!) so I thought I'd share a few.&nbsp; <i>Feel free to steal.&nbsp; grin.</i>&nbsp; Normally, I would choose one and let it inspire me into making a&nbsp; representational piece. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-30bQLsD2gA0/VR3gpQ2ZDdI/AAAAAAAAC4c/ciqqDdUBsMk/s1600/lilies6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-30bQLsD2gA0/VR3gpQ2ZDdI/AAAAAAAAC4c/ciqqDdUBsMk/s1600/lilies6.JPG" height="262" width="400" /></a></div><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">But</span></b> this year, I'm in an <b>abstract mood&nbsp;</b> and want to <b>play with silk </b>so&nbsp; I thought I would take it into a different direction.&nbsp; But where to start?? <br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c0Fqi-agphs/VR3g0MS_fWI/AAAAAAAAC4k/Gw60Rs6lFfY/s1600/lilies3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="lilies by Nina-Marie Sayre" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c0Fqi-agphs/VR3g0MS_fWI/AAAAAAAAC4k/Gw60Rs6lFfY/s1600/lilies3.JPG" height="320" title="Creations by Nina-Marie Sayre" width="210" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Original Photo</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kq5KUM7AHPc/VR3iJhMyz1I/AAAAAAAAC48/F-N6sPVFsh0/s1600/lilyps5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kq5KUM7AHPc/VR3iJhMyz1I/AAAAAAAAC48/F-N6sPVFsh0/s1600/lilyps5.jpg" height="320" width="210" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Impressionistic effect</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The easiest place is my Photoshop Elements program.&nbsp; The program contains <b>"Filters" </b>that you can easily apply to your photos to create different desired effects.&nbsp; And let me tell you, you can literally spend<i> hours</i> playing with the different effects. With the click of a mouse you can distort your photo into literally something that is barely recognizable. You are only limited by your patience on how much you want to play with it.&nbsp; <br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8T8-WPYwCy0/VR3hjX_B5DI/AAAAAAAAC4s/SPQe1LYqLgM/s1600/lilyps2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8T8-WPYwCy0/VR3hjX_B5DI/AAAAAAAAC4s/SPQe1LYqLgM/s1600/lilyps2.jpg" height="320" width="210" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Watered Window Effect</td></tr></tbody></table><br />These are only a few of my favorites.&nbsp; I doubt if I'd do a literal interpretation of any of these but they definitely give me some ideas on <span style="font-size: large;">how</span> to abstract out a lily. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Eik0ypYnqOs/VR3hsmX3knI/AAAAAAAAC40/AAzh5xCIkwA/s1600/lilyps3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Eik0ypYnqOs/VR3hsmX3knI/AAAAAAAAC40/AAzh5xCIkwA/s1600/lilyps3.jpg" height="320" width="209" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alien Glow</td></tr></tbody></table>Don't even ask me how all of this is going to figure in with the composition, but a<b> girl has to start <span style="font-size: small;">somewhere</span> right?!?</b><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><b>So What have you been up to creatively?</b></span><!-- start InLinkz script --> <script type="text/javascript">document.write('<scr' + 'ipt type="text/javascript" src="//www.inlinkz.com/cs.php?id=512552&' + new Date().getTime() + '"><\/script>'); </script> <!-- end InLinkz script -->Nina Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316034317827146338noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4364828980944336570.post-72711550291705800982015-03-27T00:00:00.000-04:002015-03-27T00:00:08.212-04:00Keys to Good Composition - Off the Wall Friday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gX6ua7H_YX4/VRSjgR9HJDI/AAAAAAAAC3E/ATFNVqdzjEE/s1600/COMPOSITION.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gX6ua7H_YX4/VRSjgR9HJDI/AAAAAAAAC3E/ATFNVqdzjEE/s1600/COMPOSITION.JPG" height="249" width="320" /></a></div>As I finish up the my many - <i>many</i> hours of quilting, I started thinking about the composition of my next piece.&nbsp; I'm planning on using my annual lily piece as an excuse to experiment with silk.&nbsp; Still, I can't just experiment.&nbsp; I have to have a plan - a composition that I'm working toward.&nbsp; I've learned from past attempts, that the words <span style="font-size: large;">intuitive</span> and <span style="font-size: large;">spontaneous</span> are adjectives that will<b> never</b> be used in describing my creative style.&nbsp; Well, at least not in the near future. So I'm in search of a good composition.&nbsp; <i>Hmmmmmm</i>, but how does one go about that???<br /><br /><h4 style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">KEYS TO GOOD COMPOSITION</span></b></h4><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">all of which can be rearranged, edited, added to,or ignored all together&nbsp; </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SRAym7F53uY/VRSuFSXmMLI/AAAAAAAAC3U/tTrWRUobTS8/s1600/focal.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Nina-Marie Sayre" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SRAym7F53uY/VRSuFSXmMLI/AAAAAAAAC3U/tTrWRUobTS8/s1600/focal.JPG" height="225" title="Keys to Composition Rule of Thirds" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Rule of Thirds - Focal Point</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><b>1.</b></span> Decide what you want to say in your piece - pick the<b> main theme</b> and<b> mood</b><br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">2.</span></b> Draw your <b>borders</b> and pick a <b>focal spot</b>. Don't pick the dead middle.&nbsp; Using th<b>e rule of thirds</b>, you can split the piece into thirds, horizontally and vertically and place the focal point on one of the intersections.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y090C9pPyvg/VRSumkVqAUI/AAAAAAAAC3c/B2JPMgkH_z0/s1600/balance.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Nina-Marie Sayre" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y090C9pPyvg/VRSumkVqAUI/AAAAAAAAC3c/B2JPMgkH_z0/s1600/balance.JPG" height="320" title="Rules of composition" width="208" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Balance the Elements</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>3. </b></span>Draw your main shapes (figurative or abstracted) but make sure they are<b> varied in shape, scale and the space</b> between them are all different.&nbsp; Also, an<b> odd</b> number of elements is always more pleasing to the human eye than an even - so think 3 - 5 - 7<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>4. </b></span>Create <b>balance </b>in the piece - the elements should be scatter throughout the piece with the <b>main focus balanced by lesser elements </b><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>5.</b></span><b> Lead the eye</b> into the work using diagonals and curves that engage the edge of the piece - Use the<b> power of line</b> effectively!<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FgCMhIbG1c8/VRSv8k6sc0I/AAAAAAAAC3o/vio-vhne0-U/s1600/depth.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Nina-Marie Sayre" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FgCMhIbG1c8/VRSv8k6sc0I/AAAAAAAAC3o/vio-vhne0-U/s1600/depth.JPG" height="262" title="Rules of Composition" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>6.</b></span> A <b>sense of depth </b>is created by overlapping your pieces and using scale to create the right sense of perspective<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>7. </b></span><b>Avoid symmetry</b>&nbsp; - make sure there is enough <b><i>"differentness"</i></b> to create tension<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>8.</b></span> <b>Edit out clutter </b>- highlighting the essential - give <b>quiet space</b> in the piece<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aqH1V7ZBMkA/VRSy7PqKgjI/AAAAAAAAC30/Y-mvwq3TrUY/s1600/edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Nina-Marie Sayre" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aqH1V7ZBMkA/VRSy7PqKgjI/AAAAAAAAC30/Y-mvwq3TrUY/s1600/edit.JPG" height="211" title="rules of composition" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Edit! Edit! Edit!</span></td></tr></tbody></table>Now remember composition isn't just about the initial sketch.&nbsp;<span style="font-size: large;"> Value</span> will have a huge part in the piece too. &nbsp; You can use value to highlight the focal spot - to create depth&nbsp; - to establish movement through out piece.&nbsp;<span style="font-size: large;"> Color (hue) </span>plays it part too in creating mood, movement and tension within a piece.<br /><br />I just want to add that I wrote this post to <span style="font-size: large;">help me</span> as much as it is to <span style="font-size: large;">help you</span>!&nbsp; Its much easier to critique a sketch if you have a list of what to look for in front of you.&nbsp; Not to mention taking an hour out of the week looking at well composed photos!!<br /><br /><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;">So What Have you been up to creatively?</span></span><br /><br /><!-- start InLinkz script --> <script type="text/javascript">document.write('<scr' + 'ipt type="text/javascript" src="//www.inlinkz.com/cs.php?id=509847&' + new Date().getTime() + '"><\/script>'); </script> <!-- end InLinkz script -->Nina Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316034317827146338noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4364828980944336570.post-19638812101396865532015-03-20T00:00:00.000-04:002015-03-20T00:00:02.706-04:00Off the Wall Friday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zQpe2C595bs/VQuHZAAQ4pI/AAAAAAAAC2s/igkEqQtPtkM/s1600/art5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zQpe2C595bs/VQuHZAAQ4pI/AAAAAAAAC2s/igkEqQtPtkM/s1600/art5.JPG" height="302" width="320" /></a><br /><br />My mind is a <span style="font-size: large;"><b>mass of ideas</b></span> this week -<b> too</b> many ideas in fact.&nbsp; I need to calm them so that I can focus on getting the quilting done on the Curves2.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AlUKCii_LjQ/VQuHSN9rCwI/AAAAAAAAC2k/V2JTiQhdr60/s1600/art4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AlUKCii_LjQ/VQuHSN9rCwI/AAAAAAAAC2k/V2JTiQhdr60/s1600/art4.JPG" height="320" width="209" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp; So with that in mind, I decided to not blog out anything new - just <b><span style="font-size: large;">play host</span></b> this week.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">As is my custom - I'll leave you with my favorite Art quotes of the&nbsp; moment!</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #990000;"><b>What have been up to creatively?</b></span></span><br /><br /><!-- start InLinkz script --> <script type="text/javascript">document.write('<scr' + 'ipt type="text/javascript" src="//www.inlinkz.com/cs.php?id=507826&' + new Date().getTime() + '"><\/script>'); </script> <!-- end InLinkz script -->Nina Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316034317827146338noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4364828980944336570.post-61684132426095346712015-03-13T00:00:00.000-04:002015-03-13T00:00:07.077-04:00Free Photos For Off the Wall Friday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TuCjZpVsmiM/VQImYeNMy1I/AAAAAAAAC1o/I83DWZnJyGQ/s1600/Capture.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TuCjZpVsmiM/VQImYeNMy1I/AAAAAAAAC1o/I83DWZnJyGQ/s1600/Capture.JPG" height="267" title="ninamariesayre.blogspot.com" width="400" /></a></div>With the Curves2 &nbsp;safely under my sewing machine's foot, my mind has begun to wonder on what's the &nbsp;next. big project. <br /><br />&nbsp;I'm always on the look out for free inspiration. . . isn't everyone? &nbsp;<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Free </b></span>is good. . . .<span style="font-size: large;"><b> Inspiration</b></span> is even better. <br /><br />On that topic I thought I would share &nbsp;some of my favorite sites that have a ton of free photos to inspire any creative creature!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BMbvW7qXtPI/VQIs7Yir_HI/AAAAAAAAC14/X7JrissENI4/s1600/sail.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BMbvW7qXtPI/VQIs7Yir_HI/AAAAAAAAC14/X7JrissENI4/s1600/sail.JPG" height="238" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.freeimages.com/">1. &nbsp;Freeimages</a>&nbsp;</span> Over 350,000 images that can be used for creative purposes as inspiration or digitally. &nbsp;Certain images might &nbsp;contain the request to contact &nbsp;the photographer if you're going to use the image or to give proper attribution<br /><br /><a href="http://www.freefoto.com/index.jsp"><span style="font-size: large;">2. &nbsp;Freefoto </span></a>&nbsp; Has over 100,000 photos to that can be used for blogging purposes (following the required attribution rules). &nbsp;Most photos have small watermarks. There is a creative commons for images that an be used in artistic derivative work.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">3. <a href="http://pixabay.com/">Pixabay</a>&nbsp;</span>Over 300,000 images that are in public domain that you can use any way you want without any kind of proper attribution.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DGjW1W-X_xU/VQItDR6jp1I/AAAAAAAAC2A/RLw_gBBPUWw/s1600/arch.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DGjW1W-X_xU/VQItDR6jp1I/AAAAAAAAC2A/RLw_gBBPUWw/s1600/arch.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">4.<a href="http://www.stockphotosforfree.com/">&nbsp;Stockphotosforfree</a></span>&nbsp;About a 100,000 images that &nbsp;are still shots taken from video imagery. &nbsp;Their royalty free licencing agreement lets the downloader use the images in virtually any creative way possible.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">5. &nbsp;<a href="http://www.everystockphoto.com/">Everystockphoto </a>-</span> This site has license specific photos - so you &nbsp;need to check what you can and can not do with the photo - Most are free to use under specific conditions.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W7-osk4hmlk/VQItLBvh0uI/AAAAAAAAC2I/b39ClwlFHjo/s1600/sea.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W7-osk4hmlk/VQItLBvh0uI/AAAAAAAAC2I/b39ClwlFHjo/s1600/sea.JPG" height="261" width="400" /></a></div><br />Of course, there are many more - so sometimes I like to use <a href="http://photopin.com/">PhotoPin</a>&nbsp;which searches several creative commons at once. &nbsp;Also like I've shared before<a href="https://www.flickr.com/commons/"> Flikr has a great creative commons.</a><br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">So What Have You Been Up to Creatively?</span><br /><br /><br /><!-- start InLinkz script --> <script type="text/javascript">document.write('<scr' + 'ipt type="text/javascript" src="//www.inlinkz.com/cs.php?id=505554&' + new Date().getTime() + '"><\/script>'); </script> <!-- end InLinkz script -->Nina Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316034317827146338noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4364828980944336570.post-69261135370846099512015-03-06T00:00:00.000-05:002015-03-11T06:59:11.898-04:00Reality Check . . . . . Design Wall Friday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ex55KiGhLXg/VPkH1QbDa8I/AAAAAAAAC1Q/WSq_IccHynU/s1600/IMG_7799%2B(480x640)%2B(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ex55KiGhLXg/VPkH1QbDa8I/AAAAAAAAC1Q/WSq_IccHynU/s1600/IMG_7799%2B(480x640)%2B(2).jpg" height="400" title="curves by. Nina-Marie Sayre" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vtqtJicJBGQ/VPkCoWRV3pI/AAAAAAAAC0c/FKpjbUyH3e0/s1600/IMG_7788%2B(640x483).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vtqtJicJBGQ/VPkCoWRV3pI/AAAAAAAAC0c/FKpjbUyH3e0/s1600/IMG_7788%2B(640x483).jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a>Well this week, I had a <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Reality Check </b></span>and realize I wasn't going to get this piece done in time for Sacred Threads.&nbsp; <i>sighhhhhhhh</i>.&nbsp; Its not like me to miss a deadline when I get it in my head to make it.&nbsp; I'm such a task oriented person, that I can get a little anal.&nbsp; But this week, I remembered that my Word for the 2015 was CONSUMMATE to finish with excellence, to bring to a state of perfection.&nbsp; So rushing this process is <span style="font-size: large;">counterproductive</span> to where I wanted to go this year.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F4B7NjmeF1Q/VPkEKz9X8oI/AAAAAAAAC04/dMpwXtbzwxA/s1600/IMG_7791%2B(480x640).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F4B7NjmeF1Q/VPkEKz9X8oI/AAAAAAAAC04/dMpwXtbzwxA/s1600/IMG_7791%2B(480x640).jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tooooo Muddy!!</td></tr></tbody></table>Case in point is the last swish of yellow.&nbsp; It was suppose to be dark yellow, but it came out just a medium yellow - not giving me the contrast in value the design called for.&nbsp; So I took some good advice and used a Dy-na-flow brown wash and gave it a quick paint job!&nbsp; Good idea right?!&nbsp; Nope&nbsp; - too muddy now.&nbsp; Not only did it change the value of the Swish - it changed the saturation.&nbsp; So what is a girl to do?&nbsp; Yep!&nbsp; Re-piece that part which - of course - worked perfectly.&nbsp; Still all of that took a whole morning.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NsWkA3-Uln4/VPkD-jbcJbI/AAAAAAAAC0w/UVGjjuIECug/s1600/IMG_7794%2B(480x640).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NsWkA3-Uln4/VPkD-jbcJbI/AAAAAAAAC0w/UVGjjuIECug/s1600/IMG_7794%2B(480x640).jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Much Better!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />But with two long studio days, I did manage to get the top<span style="font-size: large;"> done <span style="font-size: small;">a</span></span>nd trash my studio in the process.&nbsp; I mean there were scraps <b>EVERYWHERE</b>.&nbsp; Its amazing how many little bits of yellow, pink, and turquoise can be in one little space.&nbsp; So decided to give it a good clean - put away all the fabric and get ready for the layering process.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PajDIBXvnKM/VPkFDk102hI/AAAAAAAAC1E/XHSCwaM7I-w/s1600/IMG_7796%2B(640x480)%2B(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PajDIBXvnKM/VPkFDk102hI/AAAAAAAAC1E/XHSCwaM7I-w/s1600/IMG_7796%2B(640x480)%2B(2).jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div><br />With the studio all cleaned for the first time in three months, it seemed to focus me.&nbsp; I'm really looking forward to getting some quilting lines in on this!!<br /><br />It seems like this project is dragging, but the reality is that its only been<b> 8 weeks from idea to top </b>and that's not all that bad for a 65" by 48"&nbsp; piece.&nbsp; The one thing is that is nice is that it totally skipped the<span style="font-size: large;"> "OMG this sucks"</span> phase.&nbsp; I can truly say that its exactly what I had in mind when I settled on a the design and palette.<br /><br /><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;">So what have been up to creatively?</span></span><!-- start InLinkz script --> <script type="text/javascript">document.write('<scr' + 'ipt type="text/javascript" src="//www.inlinkz.com/cs.php?id=503447&' + new Date().getTime() + '"><\/script>'); </script> <!-- end InLinkz script -->Nina Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316034317827146338noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4364828980944336570.post-34797003305518750172015-02-27T00:00:00.000-05:002015-02-27T00:00:09.503-05:00Taking the Mystery out of Silk - Off the Wall FridayAlthough I have 4 feet of snow in my yard and the temperature has not climbed much higher than 20 degrees F in two weeks, I'm thinking spring.&nbsp; A girl can hope right?&nbsp; I have an annual habit of starting a&nbsp; new spring project&nbsp; and this year I wanted to incorporate<b><span style="font-size: large;"> silk.</span></b>&nbsp; So many times I see how silk is <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aPNPT4CWJgI/VO9-NeL0f4I/AAAAAAAACz8/g-nrP29cm2M/s1600/rolls.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aPNPT4CWJgI/VO9-NeL0f4I/AAAAAAAACz8/g-nrP29cm2M/s1600/rolls.JPG" height="228" width="320" /></a></div>used in the art quilts and fiber work I admire the most.&nbsp; Not to mention, I do place orders for a company called Wintersilks.&nbsp; So it might not be a bad idea if I learn something about this mysterious fabric.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IzCrx1csQ3Y/VO95v0Cb62I/AAAAAAAACzc/21Tn3I2cM20/s1600/worm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IzCrx1csQ3Y/VO95v0Cb62I/AAAAAAAACzc/21Tn3I2cM20/s1600/worm.JPG" height="125" width="200" /></a></div>As you might or might not know, silk is harvested from a <b>silkworm's cocoon</b> (really not a worm at all but a larva for a future moth).&nbsp; That is why silk is a <b>protein fiber</b> rather than cellulose&nbsp; fiber (like cotton or rayon) and will behave differently when you use your reactive procion dyes on them. You <i>can </i>use the same textiles paints on silks as you use on their cellulose sisters.<br /><br />So of course, silk is made into all sorts of fabrics with all sorts of weights.&nbsp; Its a little overwhelming!!&nbsp; I took the advice of <a href="http://www.silkdyes.com/">Marlene Glickman </a>and bought some samples from Thai Silks in California.&nbsp; Its so much easier to put a swatch with a name that it was a worthwhile investment.&nbsp; Here are some of my favorites!<br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Organza </span></b>- sheer open weave fabric that has a smooth flat finish.&nbsp; It has a stiff crisp hand and comes in a variety of weights that effect its translucence.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Charmeuse</b></span> - satin weave silk with a crepe back - think lingerie and silk pajamas!<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Chiffon</b></span> - sheer fabric with a soft limp hand to it.&nbsp; Will drape wonderfully<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QpZyLyjRyBE/VO959cttaYI/AAAAAAAACzk/8qSbF8JlmxA/s1600/IMG_7774%2B(640x480).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QpZyLyjRyBE/VO959cttaYI/AAAAAAAACzk/8qSbF8JlmxA/s1600/IMG_7774%2B(640x480).jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Habotai</b></span>&nbsp; - is a plain weave fabric&nbsp; - has a "silky" hand (mostly but it does come in crinkle varieties) its soft and lustrous.&nbsp; <br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lxgXsgV_48Y/VO969CoQ1KI/AAAAAAAACzw/k5cKB-K_Y9g/s1600/dup.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lxgXsgV_48Y/VO969CoQ1KI/AAAAAAAACzw/k5cKB-K_Y9g/s1600/dup.JPG" height="137" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dupioni</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Dupioni </b></span>- this is a double weave fabric (often with two close but different colors).&nbsp; Its a substantial plain weave with a nubby texture.&nbsp; Still has a nice luster to it.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Noil</b></span> has a nubby feel and a low sheen.&nbsp; It comparable to cotton in texture&nbsp; easily sewn <br /><br />That is only a small sampling but at least it got me started on knowing what I was looking for.&nbsp; I'm looking forward to playing with translucence and organza this spring.&nbsp; Its been on my to do list but when I tried with synthetic fabrics last summer I got lack luster results.&nbsp; So hopefully silk will put me on the right road!<br /><br /><span style="color: #990000;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">So what have been up to creatively? </span></b></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><!-- start InLinkz script --> <script type="text/javascript">document.write('<scr' + 'ipt type="text/javascript" src="//www.inlinkz.com/cs.php?id=500397&' + new Date().getTime() + '"><\/script>'); </script> <!-- end InLinkz script -->Nina Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316034317827146338noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4364828980944336570.post-5720401732326294302015-02-23T07:23:00.000-05:002015-02-23T07:26:13.950-05:00Little by Little - Design Wall Monday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pyfWPAvQUVs/VOsZNxt9bvI/AAAAAAAACzE/7gAm88vHNT4/s1600/IMG_7769%2B(520x694).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pyfWPAvQUVs/VOsZNxt9bvI/AAAAAAAACzE/7gAm88vHNT4/s1600/IMG_7769%2B(480x640).jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div><br />&nbsp; After a long day in studio yesterday - 10 hours! - I'm getting close and closer to the finish of the piecing of Curves2.<br /><br />I finally got my studio up to 70 degrees which makes it just that much easier to stay productive in there.&nbsp; By the end of the night, I was tired!<br /><br />&nbsp;Still I did notice something.&nbsp; The last yellow piece I put on did not read "<span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Dark Yellow</span></span>" under the studio lights.&nbsp; When the lights are off you can tell its suppose to be dark yellow, but with the lights on it just reads a touch darker than its curving counterpart.<br /><br />You know what that means right?&nbsp;<i> sighhhhhhhhh</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v3-8dVRm7dc/VOsZWGmsU7I/AAAAAAAACzM/438nzpEAgAc/s1600/IMG_7764%2B(640x385).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v3-8dVRm7dc/VOsZWGmsU7I/AAAAAAAACzM/438nzpEAgAc/s1600/IMG_7764%2B(640x385).jpg" height="192" width="320" /></a></div><br />I'll have to do that section <span style="font-size: large;"><b>again.&nbsp;</b></span> It shouldn't take&nbsp; that long.&nbsp; I'm hoping to&nbsp; get the bottom section piecing done this week so I can layer it up on my studio day on Thursday.<br /><br />See other great design walls at <a href="http://www.patchworktimes.com/2015/02/23/design-wall-february-23-2015/">Judy's Patchwork Times! </a>Nina Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316034317827146338noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4364828980944336570.post-17242857708722845672015-02-20T00:00:00.000-05:002015-02-20T05:50:14.009-05:00Baby Its Cold Outside - Off the Wall Friday<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p9Ko7_AC_aw/VOaQ5Cl-yUI/AAAAAAAACxo/7lQk4gV8mLg/s1600/IMG_7759%2B(470x640).jpg" height="400" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="293" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Did I need to make it 55 by 45??</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a2HQEe6bRgs/VOaRC196WgI/AAAAAAAACxw/hRSLxObOjNs/s1600/IMG_5135_kindlephoto-462143424%2B(591x640).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a2HQEe6bRgs/VOaRC196WgI/AAAAAAAACxw/hRSLxObOjNs/s1600/IMG_5135_kindlephoto-462143424%2B(591x640).jpg" height="200" width="184" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hat, Gloves AND my blankie!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">I </span></b>am not at my creative best&nbsp; during the winter months, especially February when it seems like the <span style="font-size: large;">cold</span> is never going to<span style="font-size: large;"> end</span>.&nbsp; This year though my latest project has really kept me going.&nbsp; Too bad it can't keep me warm!&nbsp; This week, we've had sub zero&nbsp; temps for most of the week&nbsp; - as low as<b><span style="font-size: large;"> -18</span></b>!<br /><br />You know what that means??&nbsp; My studio doesn't get much warmer than 60 degrees.&nbsp; Can anyone say -<i> Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr?</i>!?!?!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-utBH28a6oOE/VOaRNij9j6I/AAAAAAAACx4/_JZ9DjawHHs/s1600/IMG_7762%2B(640x480).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-utBH28a6oOE/VOaRNij9j6I/AAAAAAAACx4/_JZ9DjawHHs/s1600/IMG_7762%2B(640x480).jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div><br />Little by little though, I am getting the Curves2 done.&nbsp; I was hoping to have all the piecing done by today but who knew it would take this<b> long</b>?!&nbsp; I'm literally on the<b> 9th bobbin</b> of thread on this baby!&nbsp; <b><span style="font-size: large;">Geesh</span></b> - like winter, I'm thinking the piecing is never going to end!!!<br /><br />p.s. &nbsp;this is what I woke up this fine Friday morning......guess the cold isn't ending soon either!!!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--6mpi5zgVYo/VOcRR-4EVwI/AAAAAAAACyI/h4G7jeHS6ec/s1600/Screenshot_2015-02-20-05-36-47.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--6mpi5zgVYo/VOcRR-4EVwI/AAAAAAAACyI/h4G7jeHS6ec/s1600/Screenshot_2015-02-20-05-36-47.png" height="320" width="200" /></a></div><br /><br />Hopefully you're warmer than I and don't have to create with gloves on!<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What are you up to creatively? </b></span><!-- start InLinkz script --> <script type="text/javascript">document.write('<scr' + 'ipt type="text/javascript" src="//www.inlinkz.com/cs.php?id=498220&' + new Date().getTime() + '"><\/script>'); </script> <!-- end InLinkz script -->Nina Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14316034317827146338noreply@blogger.com19